The local nine more than held its own in the Bay State showcase over the weekend. The team made it to the final four, winning two games and tying a third in 10-innings, during the Tournament of Champions.

A final four qualifier, Medford ultimately met its match falling to Framingham in the Bay State Championship, 9-3, Aug. 19.

Trailing 4-0, Medford seemed to catch its second wind. Gino Ramasci homered to center cutting the deficit to 4-3. Framingham fought back with plenty of firepower, however, hitting three home runs to sustain the 9-3 cushion to take the game.

In earlier action, Medford avenged an earlier 7-1 loss by beating Belmont, 5-4 in extra innings, in the Bay State Semifinal, Aug. 18. Tyler Quinlan connected on the game-winning hit, with Ramasci beating out the throw home for the win in the 13th inning.

“What a game,” Steeves said.

Medford starter Harry Welch pitched six innings surrendering four runs, as Belmont held the 4-2 advantage. In the bottom of the sixth with runners in scoring position, Welch fouled off 10 straight pitches before ripping a long drive over the fence that just went foul. Belmont opted to give Welch a free pass moments later loading the bases.

“[Harry’s at-bat] was the at-bat of the tournament,” Steeves said. “Harry hit a foul ball right down the line that would of tied it, so they decided to walk Harry to load the bases.”

John Mike Keating followed with another walk to tying the game.

Medford hung tough in extra innings. Pitcher Carmen De Angelis escaped a jam stranding two base runners retiring the next three hitters he faced. That set the stage for Medford’s rally. Ramasci laced the lead off hit while Ryan Palmer also provided a single putting runners at the corners for Quinlan’s game-winning blast.

Although they came up just short on both endeavors, it certainly made for a thrilling summer.